Deaerating and dispensing slurry



OCL 9, 1951l T. F. MooNEY ET Al.

DEAERATING AND DIsPENsING SLURRY Filed April 28, 1949 Q mm. Enum 2255 o.

NMD wwwmw MEQ W N gil/UWM ZENOONZY DJINNEs Patented Oct. 9, 1951 DEAERATING AND DISPENSING SVLURRY Thomas F.y Mooney, New Lexington, Ohio, and David H. Innes, Matawan, N. J., assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation Application April 2S, 1949, Serial No. 90,128 Y Our invention relates to a method. and apparatus for deaerating or removing excessgair or gases from slurry or liquied mixtures of structural materials. The invention is particularly adapted for use in treating structural materials 4' Claims. Cl. Z22-89) which are to be molded for useuas insulating slabs, building blocks, and the like. The slurry which is to be treated is made by mixing the ingredients with water to a desired consistency adapting it to be run into molds in which: the material/sets or hardens under suitable treatment.- In the process of making the slurry, an undesirable amount of air is introduced which results in surface bubbles or blisters, and lack of homogeneity and other objectionable. features in the final product. Ther-present invention provides an apparatus and method for deaerating the slurry to a desired` degree.

-A preferred form of construction for use in deaerating slurry in accordance with our invention, comprises a vacuum chamber in the form of ahorizontally disposed'cylinder, means for exhausting the air therefrom to a desired' degree, means for running the slurry from a supply tank into the vacuumizedfcylinder While the desired degree of vacuum is maintained and-thereby extracting from the slurry the excess air or` gases l that have been entrained or mixed with the slurry. When a desired amount of slurry has 'been introducedrthe supply is cut off, the vacuum 'the rst mentioned piston. Suitable means are provided for locking the pistons against movement during the deaerating operations.

The precise nature of the invention and various features of novelty embodied therein will be more fully understood from the followingdetailed description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation of Va preferred form of apparatus for practicing our invention, parts of the apparatus being vbroken away. Y.

Fig. 2 is a section at the line 2-2 on Fig. l. The apparatus in its preferred form comprises a horizontal cylinder I0, herein termed a vacuum cylinder, bolted to standards I I mounted on base I2. A piston I3 which is in the formof a hollow cylindrical plunger is closed atits inner 'end and is mounted-to reciprocate within the cylinder I0. A packing gland I4 provides an airtight seal between the piston and cylinder. The piston I3 is driven by a piston motor comprising a cylinder I5 and a plunger piston I6 connected in tandem with the plunger I3. 'Ihe cylinder I5 is mounted in horizontal alignment with the cylinder I0, being bolted to standards I'I on the machine base I2. The piston I6 as shown, is a hollow cylindrical plunger, closed at its inner end, its opposite end being rigidly attached to or formed integral with the piston I3. A packing gland I8 provides an airtight seal between the motor cylinder and piston.

A lock ring 2I is provided to grip the piston I6 and prevent movement of the pistons during the deaerating of the slurry as hereinafter described.

The lock ring is mounted on a standard 22 and as shown in Fig. 2, comprises a lower section 23 bolted to the standard and an upper section 24 adapted to be drawn down into clamping engagement with the piston I6 by bolts 25 threaded into the section 23. By loosening the bolts 25 the lock ring is released to permit free lengthwise movement of the piston I5 therethrough.

Air under pressure for driving the pistons and for supplying pressure within cylinder I8 for other purposes presently to be described, is supplied through an air pressure supply pipe 26 leading from a source of air pressure (not shown) to a three-way control valve 21. An air pressure pipe line 28 extends from the valve 21 to the head 29 of the cylinder Ill through which it opens into the vacuum chamber. A hand valve 30 is provided in the line 28. A second pressure pipe line 32, which may be opened and closed by a hand valve 33, extends from the valve 21 to the outer end of the cylinder I5 and supplies air under pressure for driving the pistons to the right. A hand lever 34 connected to the valve piston 35 is operable to connect the pressure line 26 with either of the cylinders Il] and I5. With the valve inthe position shown, the pressure is supplied to the cylinder I5. When the lever 34 is moved to the right, the air pressure is cut off from the line 32, the latter is opened to an exhaust -port.36, and the pressure line 28 is opened.y

to the cylinder IIJ.

The cylinder I0 may be vacuumized to any desired degree by exhausting the air therefrom through a vacuum pipe line 31 connected to a vacuum pump (not shown). A hand valve 38 is provided to close the vacuum line.

.u Slurry is f ed to the vacuum cylinder III from.

a supply tank 40 through an inlet pipe 4I leading from the tank to the cylinder and provided with a shut-01T valve 42. A stirring device 39 within the tank 4U, keeps the contents mixed, preventing separation of the fluid and solids, or settling out of heavier constituents of the mixture. An air piped-3 tis. connected'at oneend :tothe' pipe -4I and is openatitsopposite endzbut may be closed by a Valve 44. The slurry is run from the tank I through a discharge pipe 45, opened andi; closed by a hand valve 46, into.molds-4.orother. containers. The plunger I3is at' th'is time in its retracted position, leaving;the-inletuopening at the lower end of the pipe 4I: uncovered.. An:

to and from a charging position beneath the pipe 45.

The operation is as follows:

Assuming that the tank Il) is emptyVandthat the valves 42, 44, 38 and 46 are all closed, the 20 operator moves the operating4 lever? Stor; the three-way valve to'the right, thereby; opening pressure supply pipe. 26- to thefair` pressure line 28so that air pressure is admittedato the cylinder IS.- The. pistons I3,:I are thereby VInovedto Athe leftY while thefair from the cylinder vIiizis dis-A charged through the line;3f2 andexhaustfport 35i Thev lockring 2l is tl'ienclarnpedA to the: piston I6: and the air: pressure line: 2S isclesed by the valve 3Q or the three-Wayjvalve.` The vacuum valverv 38 is Anext opened-toY exhaustair'from the tank Il] vand producethe desired degree ofvacuum.` A's-the pistonlihas .been movedtothefleft, as indicated in broken lines it clears theinlet pipe'4l. The hand valve42;isrnext'openedzsuif1- ciently to permitthe slurry-to flowfintozztheivacu, umized tank, preferably in a" rather thinzstream so that the slurry as it'enters theftankand passes through the rareed air therein; isrdeaerated;

When the tank has-been filled to a;desired'^level the valve 42 and. Vacuum: valve` 3S'are closed: The lock ring is then released:from'thezpiston, allowing a slight movementzofithe'latteriunder the influence of thepartial vacuumY withintthe tank until equilibrium is established inithe-two tanks. If preferred, the valve 44 may beopened y momentarily to balance the pressure.` irri the tanks; before the lock ring is'ireleased'.V After the lock ringA isl released; theA threefwayA valve" is shiftedlto theleft, namely, toitheipositionrsliiown in Fig; l, so that air'pressure isfsuppliedtthrough the line SZ-.and applied to tltie'pistorr` I-tl'iereby moving the pistons andibuildingiup airfpressure within the' cylinder il).

The slurry can new be dispensed. from the cylinder IB in regulated. amountsby*interimlt'.-l tently opening and. closing tl'iefhandl valve-:46 while constant superatmospheric. pressure?. is maintained within :the tank: The'rnaterialiasiit is discharged may be received into: themoldsedl brought in succession beneath .tliedischarge pipe:

A further mode yof `.operation consists in intro.- ducinginto'the tank lli' a suiicientaninunt of slurry to dorm a single moldicharge.. Inithis in'-y stance a comparatively large. moldmay'beused commensurate withthe size oiztheftasnkal.: If desired the. slurry may be withdrawn from'fthe tank under atmospheric pressure. obtainedfby. opening the valve d4 after the. valveiiifflf` andi the vacuum valveA 38 are' closed Releasingt of." the lock ringt I is then unnecessary;

Modifications maybe: resorted towithintthe spirit andscope of ourzinvention.

We claim:

. 1'...Apparatusforydispensing slurry comprising tioned plunger and returning a cylinder, a plunger mounted to reciprocate into and out of said cylinder, means for locking said plunger in a retracted position, an inlet pipe opening into said cylinder, means for flowing slurry through said pipe into the cylinder, a discharge pipe through which the slurry is discharged'runder'pressure, a'piston motorr for applyingipressure to the plunger. and thereby discharging the slurry, said piston motor including at cylinder and a piston connected in tandem with saidplungera control valve, an air pressure supply pipe connected to said valve, pressure pipe 'linesv extending. from said valve to the outer endsrof'the-ilcylinders respectively, said valve inendless belt conveyor 48 servestocarry thefmold's 1f;`

clfuding1a^valve=piston movable into positions to connect saidpr'essure pipe lines alternatively to said.- pressure supply pipe and thereby alternatively apply air under pressure to the piston metorr for discharging the slurry and to the plunger for returning said plunger to its retracteclA position.VV

2; Apparatuswfor dispensing a liqueed. mate-.- rialLor mixture, saidapparatus comprising'a hori. zontally disposed cylinder having a stationary mounting, a plunger mountedfor. horizontal .reciprocationinto andout ofthe cylinder, a piston motor forA drivingsaid plunger, said motor come prising a: motor-cylinder in alignment withwsaid rst-mentioned. cylinder. anda piston connected ntandern with said plunger, a .lockingl deviceior locking4 the-plunger ina retracted. position,a supply tank, an-inlet pipe: extending fromfthe irst-mentioned-cylinder to the supply tankand through whichslurry is-.admittedto the. cylinder, a dischargeY pipe` extending` from the cylinder, means for supplying;v pneumatic pressure to the motor cylinder andpistonffor moving theplunger inwardly and therebyv applying pressure. to. the slurry and discl'iarging:y it under said pressure through .said discharge pipe, .and means fior. supplying-pneumaticpressure'to the first-mentioned cylinder and. theaplungerV to-return the plunger to its'retra'ctedrposition after the discharge. of theslurry;

3; Thecombination of a cylinder, .meansvior mountingfthecylinder in a xed horizontalfpo'- sition, .a plunger mounted'to reciprocate within said cylinderpaV plunger motor for driving said plunger, saicl'motorl including a horizontal cylin der mountedl insfixedpositionin alignment with saidV first-mentioned cylinderY and af driving plunger connectedvtofsaid inst-mentioned plunge er, a lockingring encircling one-of said plungers; a lstandard' on Ywhich the Ylockingring yis mounted, means for clampng'the'ring toithe plunger and therebyY locking the latterl against lengthwise movement; means fonflowing a: liquid into the inst-mentioned cylinder, rnea'ns for actuating the said motor and` thereby causing saidzrstemenf tioned plungento; apply pressure-Within the *cyl* inder; means; OnWithdrawing the liquid under said pressure fromthe cylinder, and means-for applying; pneumaticy pressure: to said rst-mene itto. its rretracted position.`

4'.- Thexcombinatiorr ofa cylinder, meansz'for mountingr the :cylinder in axedlliorizontal :posiL "tion, a. plunger' mounted to' reciprocate within said cylinder, a plunger motor for drivingfg'said plunger; said motor includinglahorizontal cylinder" mounted in'. fi'xed position; in'. alignment withsaid firstementionedcylinder and adrivi'ng plunger connected tosaid..rst-mentionedzplunge er, a locking ,ring .encircling-one of= said plungers, al standard '.onV which the 'lockingn'ing zisfmounted',

means for clamping the ring to the plunger and thereby locking the latter against lengthwise movement, means for flowing a liquid into the rst-mentioned cylinder, means for withdrawing the liquid from the cylinder under pressure, a control valve, an air pressure supply pipe connected to said valve, pressure pipe lines extending from said valve to the outer ends of the cylinders,

respectively, said valve including a valve piston movable into positions to connect said pressure pipe lines alternatively to said air pressure supply pipe and thereby alternatively apply air under pressure to the piston motor for discharging the liquid and to the plungers for returning said plungers.

THOMAS F. MOONEY. DAVID H. INNES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number o Name' Date 1,144,583 Brown June 29, 1915 1,345,380 McColl July 5, 1920 2,203,388 Kantor June 4, 1940 2,312,544 Gould et al. Mar. 2, 1943 2,446,501 Weber Aug. 3, 1948 2,478,777 Norbom Aug. 9, 1949 

